Welcome to the fourth episode of Aquarium Drunkard’s Transmissions podcast, our recurring series of in-depth conversations and unexpected sounds.. On this week’s episode, we’re splitting our time with two unique artists.

Up first is Idris Ackamoor, leader of the intergalactic combo the Pyramids, whose new album We Be All Africansis a potent mix of soul, funk, world music, and spiritual jazz. Next, we hop in the van with singer/songwriter Eleanor Friedberger. As one-half of Fiery Furnaces, she created some of the most challenging and complex music of the 2000s, but on her latest album New View, she continues to ease into the confident, ’70s-inspired melodicism that has defined her solo albums, inspired in part by her move to upstate New York.

On this week’s episode Jason P. Woodbury speaks with Nashville-based guitarist William Tyler. As a sideman, Tyler’s guitar work has appeared on records by Lambchop, Charlie Louvin, Candi Staton, Hiss Golden Messenger, Silver Jews, Wooden Wand, and dozens more, but since the dawn of the decade, he’s focused mostly on his own records, vivid instrumental soundscapes which connect country and folk traditions to kosmische musik and ambient soundscapes. His latest, Modern Country, was released earlier this month via Merge Records, and it’s his most expansive yet. With a full band including Phil Cook and Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche in tow, Tyler paints a view of America in all its fractured complexity, evoking beautiful landscapes and forgotten rogue states. The songs act as views from back roads, and even as Tyler eschews lyrics, he nonetheless tells stories with his sounds. Sally forth…

On this episode, we spoke with Will Toledo of Car Seat Headrest, whose new album Teens of Denial comes out this Friday via Matador Records. It's a fantastic record, bigger and more fully realized than before, and it reflects the transition from solo project to full band. We also spoke to author Bob Mehr about Trouble Boys, his affecting book on the Replacements. Mehr's one of the best music writers working, and his book dives deep and comes up with even more than one could expect. Onwards . . .

It's back. Welcome to the first installment of Aquarium
Drunkard's re-tooled podcast. Picking up where the Sidecar
(Transmissions) left off, this new show will be an audio
companion to the blog proper, a late night broadcast
exploring pop culture through an esoteric
lens, featuring music, literature, film, and other
dispatches from parts unknown.

Beginning now, expect a new episode every other week. Our
debut features Jason
P. Woodbury's interview with longtime AD favorite Will Oldham,
AKA Bonnie "Prince" Billy, discussing two new albums: his
collaboration with Bitchin' Bajas, the New Age/ambient LP
Epic Jammers and Fortunate Ditties and a collection of
sessions he recorded with BBC legend John Peel, Pond Scum.
Along the way, Oldham pontificates on a certain sci-fantasy
blockbuster and discusses his contributions to the upcoming Day
of the Dead collection -- the mammoth Grateful Dead covers
project spanning 59 tracks at nearly six hours.

Intro / Shall We Gather At The River Gene Clark - Tears of Rage Chris Darrow - Livin’ Like A Fool Ian Matthews - Seven Bridges Road Manassas - So Begins The Task Ellen McIlwaine - Can't Find My Way Home David Crosby - I’d Swear There Was Somebody Here Davy Graham - Both Sides Now (excerpt) Tim Hardin - If I Were A Carpenter David Wiffen - You’ll Never Make A Dollar That Way Michael Martin Murphy - The Lights Of The City